Modeling shows Earth-like planet could orbit binary star system 70 Ophiuchi
Researchers at UC Riverside modeled a nearby binary star system to see if an Earth-sized world could exist in its habitable zone.
New study examines binary stars
A paper published in The Astrophysical Journal analyzes the dynamics of the 70 Ophiuchi system. This star system sits about five parsecs from Earth and contains two stars smaller than our sun. Scientists used observations from the University of Michigan to define how these two stars move around each other.
Simulations test orbital stability
Doctoral student Skylar D'Angiolillo ran computer simulations to check if a planet could keep a stable path. The team focused on the region where liquid water might exist around the larger of the two stars. Their work suggests an Earth-sized object could survive there despite the gravitational pull of both suns.
No confirmed planets yet
Astronomers have watched this system for decades but have not found any confirmed planets orbiting either star. The new modeling indicates that a planet in the habitable zone is theoretically possible under current conditions. This finding adds to the list of potential worlds in binary systems.
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